All adults to be offered fifth Covid vaccine

Australians will find themselves able to get a fifth Covid vaccine within a fortnight after a new recommendation from ATAGI.

Australians will be offered a fifth Covid vaccine (Photo by Hans PUNZ / POOL / AFP)

Australians will be able to get a fifth Covid vaccine within a fortnight.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended that everyone over the age of 18 who has not been infected with Covid or received a vaccine within the last six months should get a fifth shot.

The fifth jab was previously only available for people who are severely immunocompromised.

ATAGI made it clear that those over the age of 65 remain at severe risk of death or becoming seriously unwell if they catch Covid.

Australians will be offered a fifth Covid vaccine (Photo by Hans PUNZ / POOL / AFP)

The announcement means people aged between 18 and 29 will now be eligible for a fourth dose of the vaccine.

Children will not be offered another vaccine unless they have a health condition that puts them at risk.

At the start of the year, 72 per cent of eligible Australians had three doses, while 44 per cent had a fourth.

“From February 20, all adults who haven’t had a booster or an infection in the past six months can go out and get a booster shot, to give them additional protection against severe illness from Covid,” Health Minister Mark Butler said.

“If you’re 65 or over, or you’re an adult at risk of severe Covid illness, and it’s been six months since your last booster or infection, it’s now time for a booster.”